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June 19, 2012

FEFAC: European feed industry committed to livestock production

At the occasion of the 55th FEFAC Annual General Meeting, FEFAC President Patrick Vanden Avenne highlighted that "the European feed industry is fully committed to support the competitiveness and sustainability of livestock production in the EU and at global level, thus contributing to global food security, pointing to the need for more proactive, flexible market management measures to maintain viability of EU feed supply".

With a view to the current policy debate on the 'CAP' reform proposals’ goal of improving “resource efficiency” and competitiveness in European food production, Patrick Vanden Avenne stressed that “safe and balanced compound feed from competitive and sustainable sources is an essential prerequisite for the long term viability of EU livestock production”.

Patrick Vanden Avenne stated that “In a situation of extremely volatile grain and protein markets, which negatively affects the EU’s livestock sector competiveness, the compound feed industry plays a crucial role in fully exploiting the nutritional potential of co-products from the food and biofuel industry, including former foodstuffs, provided they are safe for both animals and humans”.

He called on the European Commission to rapidly prolong the TRQ import duty suspension for wheat, while doubling efforts to reduce the increasing backlog of GMO import approvals, in order to send a clear signal to the market that the supply of competitive feedstuffs remains a top priority for the European Commission in order to safeguard EU livestock production.

He welcomed in particular the planned vote at EU Standing Committee level on the reauthorisation of non-ruminant processed animal proteins for fish feed. He stated that a “positive vote would pave the way for our EU aquaculture producers to step up their efforts to increase EU aquaculture production by creating a level playing field with seafood imports”. “EFSA has provided clear scientific evidence that n.r. PAPs are safe. They can help reducing the EU’s dependency on fishmeal imports thus contributing to the Common Fisheries Policy reform goals of pairing sustainable wild fisheries with the sustainable development of aquaculture”.